Games 286 through 290 (WZ'99 Vexillium Cup), 01-22-300:

Game 286: Armatirion - Estontetso:
 
The Technical Information:

Final score: ARMATIRION 3 - ESTONTETSO 1
Played at: Revolution Park, Chifley, Whitlam
Attendance: 37,800
Referee: Gerárd Lustin (Phoenix Town)
Goals: Cunliffe (ARM, 20th), Parker (ARM, 28th), Velhotes (EST, 58th),
Parker (ARM, 83rd)
Yellow cards: Gillick (ARM, 7th), Vinhos (EST, 66th), Mastigante (EST,
85th)
Substitutions:

ARMATIRION RETURNS TO FORM IN MEANINGLESS GAME

It was a game that meant nothing, really.  And the low attendance
tonight just demonstrated that fact even more.  Both Armatirion and
Estontetso had already been eliminated from the VexCup by newcomer
Allacoa, who simply blew past both teams.  Neither team really had
anything to play for other than national pride, but neither did they
have anything to lose, really.

The game opened with both teams playing, maybe predictably, like they
just wanted the next 90 minutes to hurry and get over with, so that they
could board their planes and head home.  Both offenses appeared to be
dead to the world.  But, finally, with enough yelling and screaming,
Armatirion's coach finally got his guys moving.  Armatirion mounted two
quick offensive thrusts that came up against a wall of Estontetsan
defenders.  Shortly thereafter, though, Armatirion's offense let loose
with an all-out assault on Estontetso's woefully unprepared defense.
One short minute later, Armatirion forward Cunliffe put his team up
1-0.  On the ensuing kickoff, Armatirion's midfielders quickly wrestled
the ball away from Estontetso, and sent it flying downfield to the
waiting forwards.  A couple quick passes along the sideline led to a
crossing pass to Armatirion forward Parker, who was standing undefended
near the corner of the penalty box.  In four strides he was already
behind the charging goalie, and putting the yellow jerseys up by two.

Now realizing the peril of their situation, Estontetso's defense began
to shore itself up.  Armatirion mounted three more attacks in what
remained of the first half, but none came to fruition.  One was blocked
by defender Nopezes, and the other two resulted in goal kicks.
Estontetso, by contrast, was only able to mount one attack in the entire
first half, coming right at the end of the half.  Forwards Barriga and
Velhotes were charging on Armatirion's goal, having just past the final
defender, when the gun sounded the end of the half, and killed
Estontetso's chances to get on the board before the break.

But Estontetso refused to be denied its goal.  Coming back after the
halftime break, Estontetso's forwards picked up right where they left
off.  In fact, they literally repeated the same play that ended the
first half, with Barriga and Velhotes bolting past Armatirion's
defenders.  As goalie Tom Fern rushed out to meet the advancing duo,
Velhotes faked a pass to Barriga, then ran past Fern, shooting the ball
into the goal.

With their team now on the board, the rest of Estontetso's players
seemed to finally come alive.  And the play got more aggressive.  In the
66th minute, Estontetso defender Vinhos was given a yellow card for
jumping over the back of an Armatirion forward to try to knock the ball
away with a header.  Referee Gerárd Lustin was forced to warn several
players to calm themselves down, or risk getting a yellow card for their
dangerous plays and attempts to instigate fights.

As the game began to wind down into the final minutes, Armatirion's
Parker put the last nail into Estontetso's coffin.  With just 7 minutes
to go, Parker took a direct kick from about 25 yards out, with a wall of
Estontetsan defenders in front of him, and actually put it into the net
just over the goalie's fingertips!  A one-in-a-million shot, as
evidenced by the shocked expression on everyone's faces, not least of
which was Parker's own face.  All that was left to the game was to let
the clock run out.

With the 3-1 victory, Armatirion has at least begun to recapture some of
its former glory, though they'll still have to return home, having been
eliminated from the tournament.  Estontetso will likewise go home now,
and both teams, you can be sure, will be taking a long look at their
respective national team programs before we see them back here,
hopefully, for VexCup 300.

The Technical Information:

Final score: LEXICON ISLANDS 5 - ROSARDAN 3
Played in: SF Memorial Stadium, Cazniev, Eastern Zartania
Attendance: 74,900
Referee: Ovan Schlagk (TIG)
Goals: Dysart (ROS, 10.), Fotonaro (LEX, 15.), Raxxon (LEX, 48.), Raxxon (LEX,
50.), Dysart (ROS, 57.), Fotonaro (LEX, 63.), Dysart (ROS, 70., penalty), Raxxon
(LEX, 88.)
Yellow cards: Kilaffis (LEX, 22.), Filentoz (LEX, 70.)
Substitutions: Eckin for Dibris (LEX, 45.)

Lexicon stays on top in dynamic match!

The Vikings had certainly been the favorites to win this group, but Rosardan
certainly gave them a good run for their money in today's match.  Dysart was the
man of the day for the Rosardan team, scoring in the early going to shockingly put
the Old Continenters up 1-0.  However, their lead was short-lived, as Fotonaro
ended up winning a one-on-one duel with the Rosardan keeper after a defensive
lapse to even out the score just minutes later.  The game would stay tied for the
remainder of the first half, with Lexicon having the slight edge, but Rosardan
staying dangerous on counter-attacks.

VexCup leading scorer Kilos Raxxon did his golden boot aspirations no harm by
scoring the next two goals, within just two minutes of each other, shortly after
the break, which brought Lexicon up to a seemingly comfortable 3-1 margin.
However, Rosardan countered quickly, again minuted later, through a well-placed
header, again by Dysart.  When Fotonaro was successful once more six minutes
later, it seemed Lexicon was finally over the hill, but again Rosardan put on the
pressure, this time after Dysart converted a penalty shot in the 70. minute,
allowing him to complete his match-hattrick!  Lexicon thus was again only one goal
up, and Rosardan showed no signs of letting up.  Only in the 88. minute, Raxxon
brought deliverance to the Vikings by scoring a well-placed hook shot to finally
end Rosardan's hopes, and to ensure Lexicon's advancing to the elimination
rounds.  Raxxon was again very impressive, and has now scored an incredible SEVEN
goals in just TWO matches, automatically making him the number one contender for
the golden boot!  Very impressive work from the teenage sensation!

The Technical Information:

Final score: BROLECIA 2 - 1 CABOTENIASA.
Played at: Hawke Bitter Stadium, Gough, Whitlam.
Attendance: 120,000
Referee: Wulfgang Schwarzenberg (Albion-Merité)
Goals: Ramudeira (BRO, 43) Fjortskank (CAB, 85) McCombe (BRO, 90)
Yellow cards: Saari (CAB, 12), Klondike (BRO, 56).
Red cards: None.
Substitutions: Larssen for Perdrup (CAB, 44) Bohlin for Bøgh (CAB, 62)
Ozi for Ishmel (BRO, 70) McCombe for Montagne (BRO, 85)

BROLECIA SAVE THEMSELVES, IVEFA'S BACON.

Confusion reigned at the Hawke Bitter Stadium today, with IVEFA
officials rushing around in an attempt to determine who would advance
from the Group 12 clash, after it appeared as though Brolecia and
Caboteniasa would emerge level on both the playing field, and standings.
The game of football was overshadowed for the last 5 minutes by the
sight of officials talking and rushing around for rule books,
anticipating a draw that would have left both teams equal on the
standings. It was basically agreed that both teams would have to face a
replay before winning through, but the final chapter had not yet been
written, an injury time goal to McCombe, putting Brolecia through.

Both teams came into the match equal on the table, and were more than
equal in the first half, the Brolecians failing to get over the top of
the less-fancied Caboteniasan team, who played with a lot of spirit in
the first half. Both teams had their chances, but their defences were
more than able to put an end to the attacking raids set before a
capacity crowd in what was billed to be one of the games of the
tournament. Just as it seemed the game was heading towards a scoreless
first half, Brolecia was awarded a corner after Morol hurried a ball out
behind the line after being pressured by Montagne.

The stage for the first dramatic part of the game was set, Ishmel
placing the corner and sizing up the cross. As he struck it and put it
towards goal, the Caboteniasan 'keeper, Perdrup lost sight of his near
post, his head clipping it as he moved across in front of goal to shut
down the short kick put in by Ishmel. Perdrup went down like the
preverbial sack, leaving the suprised Ramudeira an open goal to push the
ball through.

The Caboteniasans were dismayed to say the least, and there was serious
concern about Perdrup's welfare as he lay prone next to his post.
Diagnosed with a mild concussion, he was replaced by his backup,
Larssen, who was given a warm reception. Perdrup was released from the
official medical centre several hours after the game, following x-rays
and scans showing no significant damage.

Many considered the game over with the replacement of Caboteniasa's star
stopper, but Larssen proved a more than capable backup, pulling off
several heroic saves any other backup would have missed.

The game posessed much in the same way it had in the first half, with
both teams still proving equally strong, Brolecia seemingly suprised by
the Caboteniasan resistance, perhaps almost entering shock after the
classy goal Fjortskank came up with to bring Caboteniasa equal with only
5 minutes left on the clock. This prompted the IVEFA delegates to
scramble around, believing the game was destined for a draw, with
several heated arguments in the IVEFA box about what should go on.
Fjortskank scored what was perhaps the individual effort of the game,
after beating a half-hearted Brolecian offside trap, fancying himself
and his speed against the 'keeper as he brought the ball into the box.
Rounding the 'keeper with some great footwork, he could have walked the
ball in, choosing to dribble it right through, banging it solidly into
the back of the net to emphasise the power in the play, and the
performance of his team.

With a sizeable Caboteniasan community in Whitlam, the ex-pats had
joined with their countrymen in celebrating together the fine strike, in
a display of joy not seen since Whitlam's goal-fest against Ansonia. It
seemed as though Caboteniasa had pulled it back, the general consensus
from the IVEFA being that the game would go to replay, however, the game
was still not yet over.

The game then degenerated into a shooting gallery, both teams doing
their best to get into the area, firing off speculative shots in an
attempt to pull off the victory. In all, 4 shots were taken in the four
minute flurry, only one of them on-target, replacement McCombe being the
man to put one on target, having only been on the pitch 5 minutes. What
a shot it was! A speculative effort from 25 metres out, it was aimed at
the top left corner, curving nicely to bury itself just out of reach of
Larssen, who had, until this point, been unbeatable. No 'keeper in the
world could have saved such a ferocious, though highly speculative shot,
which sent the stadium into delirium, Caboteniasan fans into mourning,
Brolecians into celebration, and Whitlamites into thunderous applause
after being shown the game of the tournament.

The Caboteniasans were one of the most impressive middle-powers of the
tournament, and the future of Caboteniasan football looks bright.
Brolecia weren't as impressive as most thought they would be, but the
Caboteniasans really had their number in this game. Caboteniasa head
home soon, and the Brolecians win through, living to fight another day.

The Technical Information:

Final score: DASCUNYA 1 - DANICA 2.
Played at: Zartlam Oil Stadium, Guwimith City
Attendance: 57,000
Referee: Richard Cordieira (Ordland)
Goals: Jensen (DAN, 15), Jensen, (DAN 74), Diva (DAS, 85)
Yellow cards: Terenkovitz (DAS, 45), Attu (DAN, 65), Ponte (DAS, 78).
Red cards: None.
Substitutions: None.

DASCUNYA CONTINUE DOWN THE SPIRAL.

Dascunya has been absent from world football for a considerable time,
and it was shown today to be having a profound effect, with the Danicans
locking in second position behind Djeriga in a group that should have
just been called "Group D."

One memorable thing about this tournament is the existence of either
thrilling games, or absolute shockers. One would wager that everyone in
the Zartlam Oil Stadium would have prefered to have been in Gough for
the Caboteniasa V Brolecia game, and several times, the screens at the
ground crossed over to show snippets of play from the big match. Danica
were obviously concentrating on getting the 3 points, and certainly got
a lot of pleasure out of beating one of the former giants of football in
the Western Hemisphere. Jensen got a good double, both goals coming from
strong teamwork, and smart passing. Diva got a consolation goal for the
Dascunyans, giving their fans something to cheer about in an otherwise
poor tournament for the team.

It was obvious that both teams were using the game to get some match
play in, both teams not making any substitutions. Several times, the
Dascunyan team seemed absent on the field, playing half-heartedly at
times. Having said that though, it does appear as though the roots of
the old Dascunyan team are still there, just that they are currently
lying dormant. The squad needs some young blood, and the older players
need a swift kick to make them competative again. Dascunya will most
likely plunge further down the rankings considering their lack of games
played, and poor performances. Marcos Elmonte must be on shaky ground
after this tournament.

The Technical Information:

Final score: LENDOSAN CONFEDERATION 1 - ANÇALDA 2
Played in: Planetarium Field, Alfacron, Eastern Zartania
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Hubert Ngaye (Allacoa)
Goals: J. Cassarica (LEN, 44th), Manolo (ANC, 69th), Rehew (ANC, 85th)
Yellow cards: Genasi (LEN, 35th), Hernandez (LEN, 39th)
Substitutions: Kouvawer for Bennecker (ANC, 45th), Agoraban Anasta for J. Cassarica (LEN, 59th), Lukanoff for Witchowski (ANC, 60th), J. Candene for Leon (LEN, 74th)

Albion-Merité Gets The Pool Handed To Them On A Plate With Five Minutes To Spare!

The Imperial Eagles of Albion-Merité can count their lucky stars today because the Lendosan Confederation lost to Ançalda, therefore advancing Albion-Merité to the playoffs.

And it was always destined to be a close scoreline for the game. Both teams had excellent defence that for the most part cancelled out the offence. That was, until just before the end of the first half, when Jose Cassarica scored for the Lendosans, and put them in confident mood at the break, despite the low scoreline.

The Ançaldans then went to the changing rooms and did some thinking, and came out playing a much superior offensive game. Sure, the Lendosan defence was good, that was proven during the Smalik Shootout as well, but the Ançaldans managed to ruin Lendosa's chances of advancing with the equalising goal by Manolo in the 69th minute. The Lendosans needed a win, and then hope that it was a large scoreline, a large score, or they had few cards. This game was neither.

The Ançaldans were playing to win, even though it was impossible for them to win the pool. So five minutes before the game was up, Rehew put the Ançaldans over the top, and gave them their first win of the tournament. 2-1 Ançalda. Lendosa heads home disappointed, especially after their success in the Smalik Shootout, and Ançalda heads home with their heads held high, defeating the winner of a major trophy.

Lendosa needed a win and then some, but of course they didn't get it. Ançalda could not win the pool, but they won the game, giving Albion-Merité the playoff spot.